Australian women's motivations for, and experiences of, cosmetic surgery: A qualitative investigation

Sociocultural pressures and engagement with cosmetic products and procedures in adult women

Previous studies have shown that cosmetic procedures and products that perpetuate Western hegemonic beauty standards among women have become increasingly popular, and pressures from sociocultural agents to utilize them are significant. However, little work has documented the relationship between perceived sociocultural pressures and use of cosmetic procedures and products among a larger age range of adult women. A community sample of 308 women aged 18-66, mean (SD) age of 35.7 (9.7), reported on the cosmetic procedures they had considered or used, as well as perceived pressures from the media, peers, romantic partners, and health and beauty professionals. Findings revealed that, among those investigated, the most frequently utilized products and procedures were supplements and hair removal. However, a significant minority reported considering more invasive procedures, including cosmetic surgery. Media was the predominant source of pressure, while partners were the least frequently endorsed. While pressure from professionals and peers had small-to-moderate associations with utilization of cosmetic products and procedures, pressure from partners had the largest association with their use. This work frames important future directions for examining the impact of sociocultural pressures on women's willingness to utilize cosmetic products and procedures that are sometimes underregulated and risky for physical and mental health.

Oops I did it (again): Patient experiences of complications after non-invasive cosmetic procedures

Whereas several quantitative studies have measured the impact of complications after cosmetic procedures on patients' lives, little qualitative research is available. To address this gap, we interviewed 20 patients attending a special filler complication consultation hour in the Netherlands. We conducted a reflexive thematic analysis, which resulted in three main themes: (1) complications: a patient's journey; (2) complications: the impact of procedures gone wrong; and (3) complications: a filler-free future? Throughout the interviews, the multifaceted impact of the complications was illustrated, which ultimately also demonstrated participants' negotiation of (negative) experiences with complications after cosmetic procedures within a neoliberal, consumerist environment. Within this context, particular discourses were advanced as others were obscured and/or rejected. Most significantly, issues of stigmatization and shame were tangible throughout the interviews as participants felt they (must) accept responsibility for the consequences of their own consumerist decision to undergo cosmetic procedures. Moreover, the participants' decision to undergo further cosmetic procedures after their complication illustrate the normality, or even normativity, of contemporary beauty practices. A final note regards some important implications for the industry in relation to providing adequate complication care.

Psychometric properties of a Romanian translation of the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (ACSS): An examination using bifactor exploratory structural equation modelling

The Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (ACSS; Henderson-King & Henderson-King, 2005) is a widely used measure for the assessment of attitudes toward cosmetic surgery. Here, we examined the psychometrics of a novel Romanian translation of the ACSS. A total of 1275 Romanian adults (889 women, 386 men) completed the ACSS alongside additional, related measures. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with a first split-half subsample supported extraction of the original 3-factor model consisting of Intrapersonal, Social, and Consider dimensions. In a second split-half subsample, we found that a 3-factor bifactor exploratory structural equation model (B-ESEM) had superior fit compared to all alternative models that were tested. This B-ESEM representation had well-defined G-factor with adequate composite reliability, and its S-factors were also generally well-defined. Across subsamples, the optimal model showed strong or partial strong invariance across gender, with women having significantly higher latent means on the Consider factor relative to men. Evidence of convergent validity was also generally good in women, especially for the G-factor of the ACSS, but was attenuated in men. Overall, these findings indicate that the Romanian version of the ACSS has adequate psychometric properties. We also encourage scholars to consider B-ESEM representations of the ACSS in other national settings.

"We should educate the public that cosmetic procedures are as safe as normal medicine": Understanding corporate social responsibility from the perspective of the cosmetic procedures industry

The cosmetic procedures industry is profitable and expanding. Through its premise and promotion, the industry contributes to unrealistic societal appearance pressures considered harmful to body image. In the context of limited regulation, there is an uneasy reliance on businesses in the sector to act in a socially responsible way. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to voluntary business practices designed to benefit society, and engagement in CSR is shaped by extrinsic and intrinsic drivers. This study aimed to explore how senior UK industry professionals view CSR as it applies to their sector and to body image. Findings from 14 semi-structured interviews show that participants' understanding of CSR was limited to a myopic focus on patients. Little reflexivity was demonstrated in relation to the industry's responsibilities concerning negative body image in society. More broadly, the drivers of socially responsible practice were overwhelmingly extrinsic - oftentimes explicitly linked to bolstering or protecting company and/ or industry reputation. Participants, acknowledging a lack of intrinsic motivation for CSR across the sector, were largely in support of greater regulation. This research contributes to understandings of how the adoption of a CSR agenda might combine with regulatory efforts to curb the industry's impact on negative body image.